Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination presents a particularly interesting case for a game like Minimum, a third-person shooter released in 2014. The hardware pairing is a mix of an older 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 2000 series built on the 12 nm process with a modern Ampere architecture GPU. The database contains measured frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets, offering a clear view of how this system handles the title. The data is not just a list of numbers; it reveals a story about where the bottleneck lies and what the player can expect from the experience. The core question is whether this combination can maintain a playable frame rate, defined here as 60 frames per second or higher.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for this system in Minimum shows a wide range of performance, scaling significantly with both resolution and graphical preset. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. With the Low preset, the average frame rate reaches 229 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 175 FPS, with a minimum of 149 FPS and a maximum of 201 FPS recorded. High settings still deliver an average of 147 FPS. At the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, the average frame rate remains high at 112 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system has substantial headroom above the 60 FPS playable threshold, regardless of the quality settings selected.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down but remains robust. The Low preset yields an average of 148 FPS. The Medium preset records an average of 113 FPS, with a minimum of 96 FPS and a maximum of 130 FPS. High settings produce an average of 95 FPS. Even at the Ultra preset, the system maintains an average of 72 FPS. This shows a consistent pattern: even at a higher resolution, the system is capable of exceeding the 60 FPS target with ease, even when pushing the graphics to their maximum quality.

The most demanding scenario is at 3840x2160 (4K). At this resolution, the performance drops considerably. The Low preset is still quite playable, with an average of 79 FPS. The Medium preset achieves an average of 61 FPS, which is just above the playable threshold, with a recorded minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. However, the High preset only manages an average of 51 FPS, dipping below the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with the average frame rate falling to 39 FPS. This resolution clearly tests the limits of the RTX 3070, and the data shows a clear division: Low and Medium are playable, while High and Ultra are not.

The data also reveals a significant performance gap between the presets, particularly at 4K. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 3840x2160 is a 40 FPS swing in average frame rate. At 2560x1440, the swing between Low and Ultra is 76 FPS, and at 1920x1080, it is 117 FPS. This indicates that the performance cost of each preset level is substantial, and the system's ability to handle them is highly dependent on the resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the database's nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU helps contextualize this system's performance. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 has an average benchmark score of 21484, which places it in the 75th percentile when compared to all CPUs. Its closest rival in the database is the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V, which has an average score of 21440, a delta of 0.2 percent. The Intel Core i9-11900H is also very close, with an average score of 21367 and a delta of 0.5 percent. On the other side, the Intel Xeon D-1746TER scores slightly higher at 21635, a delta of -0.7 percent, and the AMD EPYC 9454 scores 21223, a delta of 1.2 percent. This suggests that in terms of raw processing power, the Ryzen 5 2600 is performing in a similar class to these other processors, and a user swapping between them would likely see very similar frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 holds an average benchmark score of 17208, placing it in the 61st percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT with a score of 17083, a delta of 0.7 percent. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17037, a delta of 1 percent, and the AMD Radeon HD 7970M scores 17019, a delta of 1.1 percent. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c is slightly ahead with a score of 17468, a delta of -1.5 percent. This indicates that the RTX 3070's overall graphical performance is in a similar tier to these cards. Players using any of these GPUs in combination with a comparable CPU could expect a similar experience in Minimum, with the primary differentiators being features like ray tracing or DLSS, which are not reflected in these average scores.

The data from the rivals underscores that this system is a balanced pairing in terms of overall benchmark scores. The CPU and GPU are both in the middle-to-upper range of their respective categories, and the performance in Minimum is a direct result of this balance.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured frame rates across different resolutions provide insight into which component is more influential for this game. The frame rate scaling from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 is significant. For example, at the Ultra preset, the average frame rate drops from 112 FPS to 72 FPS, a reduction of 40 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as the resolution increases, because the number of pixels being rendered increases substantially, placing more load on the graphics card.

The scaling from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 is even more dramatic. At the Medium preset, the average frame rate drops from 113 FPS to 61 FPS, a reduction of 52 FPS. At the High preset, it drops from 95 FPS to 51 FPS, a 44 FPS reduction. This steep decline at 4K strongly suggests that the RTX 3070 is the primary bottleneck at this resolution. The CPU, while not the top performer, has enough headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but at 4K, the GPU's raw rendering power is simply insufficient to maintain high frame rates on the more demanding presets.

Conversely, the CPU's role is more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080 with the Low preset, the system achieves 229 FPS. This is a very high frame rate that is often limited by the CPU's ability to process the game's logic and prepare draw calls for the GPU. Even at 2560x1440 with Low settings, the frame rate is 148 FPS, which is still high. The fact that the frame rate does not scale perfectly with the reduction in resolution suggests that the CPU is contributing to the performance ceiling in these scenarios. The Ryzen 5 2600, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is sufficient for this game, but it is not so powerful that it can completely eliminate its own limitations at extremely high frame rates.

The presets also play a role in this dynamic. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1920x1080 is 117 FPS, while at 3840x2160, the difference is only 40 FPS. This shows that at lower resolutions, the graphical settings have a larger impact on frame rate, because the GPU is not as heavily loaded and the CPU is more capable of keeping up. At 4K, the GPU is so saturated that changing the preset has a smaller absolute effect, as it is already working at its limit. The data clearly shows a shift in the bottleneck from the CPU at lower resolutions to the GPU at 4K.

The Verdict

The recorded data provides a clear answer to whether this PC can run Minimum. The database's verdict, which uses a playable threshold of 60 FPS, confirms that this system is more than capable of running the game at both 1920x1080 and 2560x1440. At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, and Ultra) produce average frame rates well above 60 FPS, with the Ultra preset achieving an average of 112 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same is true, with the Ultra preset still delivering an average of 72 FPS. This means a player can enjoy the game at its highest visual quality at these resolutions without any concerns about hitting the 60 FPS target.

The situation changes at 3840x2160. Here, the system can only maintain an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS for the Low and Medium presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 79 FPS, and the Medium preset achieves an average of 61 FPS. The High preset falls short at 51 FPS, and the Ultra preset is even lower at 39 FPS. The verdict correctly identifies Low and Medium as the playable settings at this resolution, with Medium being the best playable option. While the 61 FPS average is technically above the threshold, the recorded minimum of 52 FPS suggests that there may be occasional dips below 60 FPS during intense scenes. For a consistently smooth experience at 4K, players would need to stick with the Low preset or accept the possibility of minor frame rate fluctuations on Medium.

In summary, the system is a clear "yes" for 1080p and 1440p gaming at any preset. For 4K gaming, it is a conditional yes, requiring a reduction in graphical quality to Medium or Low to ensure a playable experience.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 1080p with Ultra settings?*

A: Yes. The recorded average frame rate at 1920x1080 with the Ultra preset is 112 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable preset at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the best playable option, with an average frame rate of 61 FPS. The High and Ultra presets fall below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 2600 compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 has an average benchmark score of 21484, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V scores 21440. This represents a delta of 0.2 percent, meaning they perform nearly identically in the database's aggregate benchmarks.

Q: Is the RTX 3070 more similar in performance to the RX 7600 XT or the GTX 690?

A: The RTX 3070's average benchmark score is 17208. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is its closest rival with a score of 17083, which is a 0.7 percent difference. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17037, a 1 percent difference, making the RX 7600 XT the most similar in the database.

Q: Will the frame rate drop significantly when moving from 1440p to 4K?

A: Yes, the data shows a substantial drop. For example, at the Medium preset, the average frame rate falls from 113 FPS at 2560x1440 to 61 FPS at 3840x2160. This indicates a major increase in load on the GPU.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded for this system?

A: The lowest average frame rate recorded is 39 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra preset.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database's collection of tested hardware combinations for Minimum, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 holds a rank of 1589 out of a total of 3712 tested combinations. This places the system in the upper half of all tested configurations, specifically in the 43rd percentile. This is a respectable ranking, considering that the database likely includes many systems with newer and more powerful components. The ranking is a direct reflection of the measured frame rates, which are excellent at 1080p and 1440p but start to struggle at the demanding 4K resolution. The system's rank suggests that it outperforms a majority of the combinations in the database, but it is not at the top tier. This is consistent with its hardware profile: a capable but not top-of-the-line CPU paired with a strong but not flagship GPU.

The rank also provides context for the system's overall capabilities. A player with this setup is getting a performance level that is better than most, but they will not be at the very state-of-the-art of what is possible in Minimum. The system's strengths are clearly in the high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p segments, where it can deliver frame rates that far exceed the standard 60 FPS target.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the recorded data, the optimal settings for this system are clear. The goal is to select the most demanding preset that still maintains an average frame rate at or above the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080, all presets are playable. The most demanding preset is Ultra, which achieves an average frame rate of 112 FPS. Therefore, the best settings for this resolution are Ultra, as it provides the highest visual quality while still delivering a frame rate that is nearly double the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the story is the same. All presets, including Ultra, are playable. The Ultra preset records an average of 72 FPS, which is comfortably above 60 FPS. The best settings for this resolution are also Ultra, offering the maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the choice is more restricted. The High preset is not playable, with an average of 51 FPS, and the Ultra preset is even worse at 39 FPS. The Low preset is playable at 79 FPS, and the Medium preset is playable at 61 FPS. Since the Medium preset is more demanding than Low and still maintains an average frame rate above 60 FPS, it is the best playable option. The best settings for this resolution are Medium, providing a balance between visual quality and performance. The minimum recorded frame rate of 52 FPS for the Medium preset suggests that players seeking an absolutely unwavering 60 FPS lock at 4K might prefer the Low preset, but for the best visual experience, Medium is the recommended choice.